black 1 of 3

Definition of blacknext
1
as in ebony
having the color of soot or coal we adopted a little black kitten

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
3
as in swarthy
not having a light complexion a black Irishman, Tyrone Power had the classic looks of a Hollywood leading man

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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black

2 of 3

noun

black

3 of 3

verb

chiefly British

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of black
Adjective
Neon-leaning hues of lime green, pink, orange, and black swirl together for a manicure that's practically made for a tropical getaway—and bold enough to stand out from the beach to the open sea. Amanda Le, InStyle, 29 June 2026 She was last seen wearing an orange/brown sweater and gray sweatpants and carrying a pink/black duffle bag. Gloria Casas, Chicago Tribune, 22 June 2026
Noun
Waterhouse paired them with a black blazer and fitted, above-the-knee shorts, then broke the uninterrupted black with a narrow gold anklet on one leg. Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 30 June 2026 Suddenly, stickers with red, purple or orange edges became especially sought-after, and collectors have put huge bounties on ultra-rare, black-bordered, 1-of-1s — as in, one in the world — depicting Messi, Ronaldo, Lamine Yamal and other big stars. Dave Skretta, Fortune, 27 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for black
Recent Examples of Synonyms for black
Adjective
  • The color palette included ebony, black and oak tones.
    Andrea Onate, Footwear News, 21 June 2026
  • The venerable patriarch is leaning heavily on an ebony cane, and is followed closely by his personal assistant, a bald gnome of a man, armed with a notebook and pencil.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 June 2026
Adjective
  • The top-of-the-line chef’s kitchen sports metallic cabinetry paired with dark marble countertops and backsplashes.
    Tori Latham, Robb Report, 30 June 2026
  • These include rolled or folded leaf blades, a dark or blue tinge to the foliage, or lingering footprints after walking on the lawn.
    Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 29 June 2026
Adjective
  • She’s talked up her push to convert darkened streetlights, many of them stripped of their copper wire, to solar power.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2026
  • In the darkened foyer, Ember contemplated this unassuming bit of paper, momentarily paralyzed by a mixture of dread and excitement stirred together, an overpowering sensation that oozed from the crown of her head, down the length of her body, then hardened, like a soft golden resin becoming solid.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • The land, unfenced, abuts a bald blackened hillside that must be public land.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Experts say that the biggest challenge at that extreme level of blackness is actually measuring it.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 26 June 2026
  • In the restaurant, my dad looked at me with the passionate conviction of a man who was confident in his Blackness and wanted nothing more than to pass it on.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 June 2026
Verb
  • The next jolt was Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, which spiked energy costs throughout Europe as its leaders tried to boycott their years of dependence on the Kremlin’s gas supplies.
    Alexander Smith, NBC news, 23 June 2026
  • Calls to boycott Japanese products occur frequently whenever old grievances re-emerge.
    Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 17 June 2026
Adjective
  • Earlier this season, Jackie and Shadow laid four eggs, but two were destroyed during a raven attack.
    Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 7 Apr. 2026
  • Earlier this season, the pair laid four eggs, but two were destroyed during a raven attack.
    Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • The most common cat colors are orange, black, cream or gray, but cats can come in unique hues, such as chocolate or lilac.
    Madeline Gunderson, USA Today, 5 July 2026
  • In his apartment officers found black and gray clothing Fleming wore during the robberies as well as a black duffel bag, a gun belt with a holster, a large sum of cash still wrapped in bank currency bands, and multiple guns.
    Mary Ella Hastings July 3, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Black.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/black. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.

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